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Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes
usually does not cause symptoms distinguishable from those that commonly occur in pregnancy. If symptoms do occur, they may be similar to those in nongestational diabetes. These may include:

Increased urination (polyuria)—When glucose accumulates in the blood, it pulls water out of the body’s tissues and into the blood. The kidneys turn this extra water into urine and excrete it. This increases your urine output.

Increased hunger—Your body’s cells are not getting enough glucose, which means your cells cannot get enough food. This causes you to feel hungry.

Recurring
urinary tract infection
or
vaginal yeast infection
—When glucose builds up in the blood, it can affect the functioning of your white blood cells. This may cause you to have urinary tract infections or vaginal yeast infections more often.

Weight loss—Despite the increase in appetite, you may lose weight. This is because the cells cannot get enough glucose to use for energy so they begin to break down the body’s stores of fat in order to produce energy.

Fatigue—Because your cells are not getting glucose, they cannot get enough energy. This can make you feel tired.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Diabetes and pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at:
http://www.diabetes.org. Accessed July 2010.